Chapter 54: The Monopolized Meat and a Small Resolve
The next day, the three of us began touring Vaide’s restaurants and taverns to get a better grasp of the city’s situation.
Compared to Reservoir, the prices at every establishment were noticeably higher.
At one diner where we stopped for lunch, I casually tested a friendly-looking server.
“Sorry, but aren’t the prices much higher than the last time I came here? Did something happen?”
The server let out a long sigh, as though he had been waiting for someone to ask.
“Sir, I’m glad you asked. The wholesale price of fresh meat has skyrocketed, so we’ve had no choice but to raise our prices.”
He lowered his voice and leaned closer.
“Hardly any meat comes through the merchants’ guild anymore. Most places have to buy their meat from the Golden Lion’s Roar Tavern. That’s why everything ends up costing more…”
When we left the diner and stepped onto the main street, we saw exactly what he meant.
In front of the lavish Golden Lion’s Roar Tavern, burly workers were unloading cart after cart of fresh meat under heavy guard.
It was a sight unlike anything we’d seen at any other restaurant.
Chris stood there in stunned silence.
We headed straight for the Vaide branch of the Adventurers’ Guild.
At the reception desk, I asked directly,
“I’d like to know about the Masked Swordsman employed by the Golden Lion’s Roar Tavern. Do you have any information?”
“Ah, we’ve heard the rumors ourselves. However, both his identity and his true ability remain complete mysteries. We only know that he’s undoubtedly skilled.”
The guild employee’s vague answer finally exhausted Chris’s patience.
“So the guild is just going to stand by and let them get away with this!?”
“I understand your frustration, but we’re in a difficult position as well. The Golden Lion’s Roar Tavern is raising prices, yes, but all of their transactions are legal on paper. They aren’t breaking any laws. They’re free to hire bodyguards as they please… We simply have no authority to intervene.”
“You could at least limit how much they’re allowed to buy!”
“I’m afraid not. We’ve heard they’re purchasing directly from the ranches. Besides, this is the Adventurers’ Guild. The city’s meat distribution isn’t under our jurisdiction. You might have better luck asking the Merchants’ Guild.”
Following his suggestion, we visited the Merchants’ Guild.
Unfortunately, we received much the same response.
“This is supposed to be the City of Meat, so why is meat so scarce and expensive!? Even if a large shipment went to Reservoir, there’s no way that alone could cause shortages like this! Why aren’t you stopping the Golden Lion’s Roar Tavern from monopolizing the supply!?”
Faced with Chris’s heated demands, the guild official answered with a weary expression.
“The cattle simply haven’t matured quickly enough. There’s nothing we can do about that… As for the Golden Lion’s Roar Tavern, they appear to be buying directly from the ranches, which has caused us no end of trouble. Normally everything should go through the guild, but… I can’t explain the details. They’ve found a loophole in the regulations, leaving us unable to act.”
That evening, the owners of several small local businesses gathered at the inn where we were staying to discuss possible solutions.
“At this rate, we’ll slowly go under. What if we united and visited the smaller ranches around Vaide ourselves to negotiate directly?”
The innkeeper’s proposal quickly gained support.
“But even then, the prices will still be higher than before. And leaving the city carries its own dangers…”
As the room filled with heavy silence, Rowena, who had been listening quietly beside me, suddenly stood up.
“I’ll go!”
Her cheerful voice drew every eye in the room.
Ignoring their surprised expressions, she turned toward me and tightly grabbed the hem of my coat with both hands.
“Let’s all… eat meat together.”
Those words were so innocent…
I looked up at the ceiling, trying to hide the conflict in my heart.
Honestly… why did it always end up like this?
“…A promise is a promise.”
My quiet reply was, in the end, another declaration that I was about to involve myself in someone else’s trouble.
Turning to the gathered shop owners, I took out my B-rank guild badge.
“I’ll take the escort job. But if supplies have become this scarce, then something may have happened at the ranches as well. Make sure you’re fully prepared for anything.”
The following morning, as everyone made preparations to depart, I gave Chris his orders.
“You’ll stay in the city and continue gathering information on the Masked Swordsman. Until we know who he is and how strong he really is, you are absolutely not to make a move. Understood?”
Meeting my firm gaze, Chris nodded resolutely.
“Yes, Master!”
Together with Rowena, the representatives of each shop, several assistants, and a number of wagons, I set out from Vaide toward the small ranches scattered across the surrounding countryside.